Chestnuthill murder victim found under tarp in yard

Kyle Brant Kresge charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Howard Frank Pocono Record Writer @PoconoHFrank

Police have charged an Effort man in the Tuesday shooting death of a Kunkletown man.

Kyle Brant Kresge, 46, was charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in the death of 34-year-old Lawrence E. Purcell, Jr.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, Kresge shot Purcell at Kresge's home at 1289 Glenwood Road in Chestnuthill Township sometime between 11 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. on Feb. 14. The investigation revealed that Kresge shot Purcell during a dispute at the home. Purcell died at the scene, according to police.

Kresge drug the body from the house and attempted to conceal it by covering it up with debris on the property, a police report said.

According to a criminal complaint, police received a 911 call at 12:28 p.m. on Feb. 14 from a female who said, “He’s dead,” and hung up the phone. The call was traced to Kresge’s home on Glenwood Road. The report did not identify the female.

When police arrived at the home, they found a white male lying alongside the house covered with a tarp and other debris. The man had sustained a gunshot wound to the upper chest consistent with a small caliber weapon. He also appeared to have injuries to his face, the complaint said.

Troopers secured the home and, while searching for other victims, found evidence of a struggle in the living room. Items were knocked over and a two-liter bottle of soda sprayed in the room. A possible bullet hole was found in the living room ceiling.

Kresge was at the scene when police arrived. He had a spent small caliber shell casing in the left cargo pocket of his pants.

Police found transfer stains consistent with the moving of the body in the living room, traveling through the kitchen, into a mud room and then outside the residence to the spot police found Purcell's body.

Police spoke with Joshua Lee at 11:04 p.m. on Feb. 14. He told police he was present when the incident occurred and that he, Purcell and another person went to the residence at the request of Kresge and Purcell. Lee said when they arrived, a verbal argument between Kresge and Purcell occurred. Kresge then took a white pickup truck with a utility trailer and left the scene.

Lee said Purcell went to the front door of the home and argued with another man. Purcell went inside the home and remained inside for sometime before Lee entered. Once inside, Lee said that Kresge returned and ran into the house yelling at Purcell to leave. That’s when Lee saw Kresge produce a handgun, heard a gunshot, and saw Purcell crumple to the floor. Lee then left the residence, got into his vehicle, and tried to leave the scene. Kresge exited the home and told Lee to take Purcell with him when he left. Lee said he left the home without taking Purcell.

Lee positively identified Kresge as the shooter. Kresge is being charged as both a principal and as an accomplice the complaint said.

Purcell was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono and was pronounced dead at 1:34 p.m.

The Troop N Major Case team is investigating the death. The Monroe County District Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.

Court records show Kresge pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault in 2002 for a Dec. 2001 incident. He was sentenced to 51 to 102 months in state prison.

Court records show Purcell pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance Oct. 17, 2016 for an incident that happened on Aug. 8. He served 60 days confinement at the Monroe County Correctional Facility. He was released on Jan. 19. Purcell was also charged in Monroe County on Aug. 20, with terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment. Those charges were later withdrawn.

Pennsylvania State Police at Fern Ridge ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the barracks at 570-646-2271.